The trans-Pyrenean migration of the stock dove Columba oenas (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Basque Country and its hunting context
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Between October 2019 and 2024, a total of 530 Stock Doves were ringed after being captured with vertical nets at the Etxalar pigeon-trapping station (Etxalarko Usategiak), located near the Lizarrieta Pass (Sare). This migration corridor is the second most important bottleneck for the species in Europe, after Falsterbo Fågelstation. On average, 8,171 pigeons migrate toward the Iberian Peninsula between 5 August and 15 November. Although not quantified, shooting proves to be much more lethal than capture with vertical nets, accounting for 3.42% of the migratory Stock Dove flow observed in October at the Lizarrieta Pass (Sare). All recorded recoveries were due to shooting. The overall ring recovery rate (5.84%) affected juveniles in 64.5% of cases. The mean ring longevity was 52 days (range: 1 to 1,232 days); 74% of recoveries were located northeast of Etxalar, at an average distance of 79 km, and 67.7% occurred during the same autumn season (October– January). These results indicate a very high probability of recovery due to intense hunting pressure on columbids in southwestern France. The harvest from shotgun hunting in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques should be quantified, as it represents a major barrier for trans-Pyrenean migratory birds. This pressure forces a large proportion of individuals to turn back and, instead of attempting to cross the Pyrenees again, remain in southwestern France to try to overwinter there.
Source: NATAGORA
Language: French
Topic: Avian ecology and behavior
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214935368